CHAPTER 14!

"Professor Dumbledore I can't take it anymore! Modify his memory, do something, ANYTHING! I can't deal with his smarmy, stupid looks in the corridor! Harry, Ron and Hermione are starting to get suspicious!" Melissa cried.

"Why on earth would they get suspicious?" Dumbledore asked.

Melissa was standing in his office, asking him – ­no, begging him – to do something about Malfoy. It had been almost a week since he'd come to her, a week since he'd told her, and things were not going well.

"Because he's being so…nice!" she spat. "Draco Malfoy is not nice to anyone!"

"I'm sure he's nice to his friends – "

"He has no friends! Professor Dumbledore please! He could ruin everything!" she begged.

"Melissa, you knew that one day you would have to tell people – "

"But not now! It's too soon! I'm just starting to get comfortable here! I don't really feel like upending it all just because my mother's a psycho killer,"

"Melissa, you need to understand the position I'm in. I can't do that to a student. I just can't,"

"But Professor, he could ruin everything!"

"He won't. That I believe. Listen, he may just be the friend you've been looking for,"

"Me? Be friends with Malfoy? Fat bloody chance,"

"Language Miss Simmons. Now, I have an appointment. I'm sorry but you'll have to leave,"

"Yeah, yeah whatever. If he tells, I'll kill him myself, and I won't need magic to do it,"

----

"That man is insufferable!" she screamed, knocking her lamp off the bench. Ginny picked it up and fixed it with a quick spell.

"Won't do anything huh?" Ginny asked sympathetically.

"No! Not a bloody thing! Claims that he can't modify the memory of student, and I knew this was going to happen anyway!" she threw a bottle of Butterbeer against the wall where it smashed; trails of the drink leaking down the side.

"Liss, calm down. What was going to happen anyway?"

"That I was going to have to tell everyone who I really was. Do you realize that if I do this, the Gryffindors will banish me!"

"The Slytherins might be on your side," Ginny said, trying to be helpful.

"Yeah but apart from Pansy – " Melissa began, but Ginny cut her off.

"Don't even start that. You always said that apart from Malfoy, the others were okay. Now I may not have believed you but…" she trailed off.

'But what?" Melissa asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Well, look, I'm not saying he's turned saint or anything, but he might not be that bad,"

"Who?"

"Malfoy," Ginny replied, cringing at the effect this might have. To her surprise, her friend almost laughed.

"Malfoy? Not that bad? Are you crazy?"

"Look, listen to me for a second. The Malfoy I used to know would have told everyone by now, he would have made sure you suffered. Not only that, but he wouldn't have been nice. To either of us,"

"He has been kind of nice hasn't he?"

"Yes, he has. And not just to you. If it were to you, it may have been that he was ordered to be nice or something. But he's been somewhat kind to me as well. Yesterday, instead of laughing at me when I dropped my books and throwing an insult my way, he actually picked them up for me. Not only that, but he took my hand and pulled me up off the floor. Granted he wasn't with anyone at the time…"

"But you were, weren't you?"

"Well, I was with Luna. So yeah, but Luna isn't exactly with it, you know? She wouldn't have noticed if it was Malfoy standing there, or a naked centaur,"

"Got it. But she's so nice!"

"Don't get me wrong, there's no questioning her kindness…Just her sanity," Ginny replied, grinning.

There was a knock at the door, and Melissa jumped. "If that's him, I swear I'll die,"

Ginny opened the door a little bit and smiled. "Relax, it's only Harry,"

"Only Harry? I feel so loved," he said, walking in. "What are you ladies up to?"

"Nothing really, Melissa's been destroying things," Ginny replied.

Harry looked at the Butterbeer stain on the wall. "I see. And what's troubling you now Simmons?" he asked playfully. Melissa stayed silent.

"She and Viktor had an argument," Ginny replied, the lie rolling off her tongue easily.

"What about this time?"

"He was going to come and visit," Ginny replied when Melissa remained silent. "But then he backed out. Said he had things to do and he couldn't make it,"

"Oh. Well that sucks. Anything I can do Liss?"

"No, thanks," she replied, snapping out of her little trance. "I've got to make a phone call," she whispered, leaving the room quickly.

"But you can't use electronics in Hogwarts," he called after her.

"I can!" she screamed back, taking off down the stairs.

She ran out to the gardens and dialed Evan's phone number.

"Come on, answer!" she said angrily.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice replied.

"Ev?"

"Who is – Pup is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me,"

"Are you okay, you don't sound too good,"

"Where are you?" she asked.

"I'm at my new place. You know the one I was looking at that day in Hogsmeade?"

"Yeah…"

"Well I bought it. Why, what's up Pup?"

"I just…I need to talk to someone, and…"

"And you thought I'd be the perfect person?"

"Well, yeah. You were always there for me before…if you don't want to I understand…"

"No it's okay. Can you get here?" he asked.

"Um, yeah probably. Just give me the address,"

He rattled it off, and she stored it in her brain before making her way back up to the castle. She almost dropped her phone when she walked into someone coming back through the door.

"Simmons?"

"Malfoy," she replied. Great, just fucking great! This is all I need…

"How you been Simmons?"

"Why are you being nice to me?" she asked bluntly. He seemed taken aback for a second, then he grinned.

"I kind of like the idea of having a cousin,"

"I'm sure you have millions. Can't you just go back to hating me?"

"You actually want me to hate you?" he asked.

"Well it certainly made life easier…and why are you being nice to Ginny?"

"You're both slightly more interesting than I ever imagined," he replied, shrugging.

"Oh really? And why is that?"

"Well, you've both got guts, something I never gave either of you credit for, and you both seem to be hanging off Potter a lot less lately, which is strange considering she'd dating him,"

"Yeah well – "

"Why is that?"

"Why is what?"

"Why is she dating him?"

"Well, because she likes him. He's a nice guy," Melissa replied.

"He has a hero complex," Malfoy stated.

"This is true, but at least she knows he'll always be there for her,"

"Until the day he gets himself killed,"

"Which will be the day you and your Slytherin pals party,"

"Well you're not wrong," he replied. "And don't forget, you're one of us,"

"Barely,"

"Not true. It's in your blood," he replied.

"Something I'm disgusted at. Look, if you wanna be all nice and friendly with me, go ahead, but leave Ginny alone. Harry's getting suspicious with me, and I can handle it, but I don't want to break them up,"

"Oh who cares. Give everyone's precious Boy-Who-Won't-Die some misery for once. It'll do him good,"

"He's had plenty of misery actually. His parents, Sirius, that Diggory guy…he's witnessed so much death. Don't you think that's enough? Why do you hate him so much anyway? What does a spoilt little brat like you have against an orphan?"

She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly so she winced.

"Imagine this – all your life, you've heard your father talk in circles about this boy, this boy who is nothing compared to you, yet your father still respects him in a way he never could respect you. Your father hates you, but he'll respect this dirt of a boy. He asks you to befriend him on the first day, and you finally get to see him, meet him, this boy who has stolen your father from you. And he is nothing! He's plain and disgusting and knows nothing of heritage or blood. He becomes Seeker in first year by breaking rules, something your father never ceases to remind you of. He beats you constantly, outwits you constantly. Every year he finds a way to make your life miserable, and every summer you go home to your deranged father, whose idea of punishment is not in words or wands. No, it's all torture and whips for your dad," he imitated his father's voice.

"Why can't you be more like Harry Potter? Why aren't you Seeker? Why does he have a better broom than you? Why did he win the house cup, it should have been yours! Over and over again I heard these words, feeling the crack of a whip on my back. Feeling the pain that Potter, darling Potter, never would feel. Tell me you wouldn't resent the bane of your existence. Tell me you wouldn't hate him with every inch of your being! Now do you see?" he asked, panting. He let go.

And she did see. She didn't want to, but she understood.

"I'm sorry,"

"I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I don't want to hear that word. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret. But ask yourself this: when everyone does find out, and they will trust me. But when they all find out, who will be behind you? Precious Potter and his saint Gryffindors? Or Ginny, myself, and the Slytherins? Who will truly care for you then?"

And he left. She almost cried with the sting of his words, but she knew she couldn't. She had to get to Evan's.

-----

Evan sat bolt upright at the knock on his door. He had cleaned, actually cleaned so that she would feel comfortable, and not think he was some sort of slob. She would know of course, would guess what the house had looked like before she rang, but she wouldn't judge him. She knew him too well…

He was still shocked at her little announcement about her and Viktor. He hadn't let as much emotion show when he'd been with her, but when he got home, nothing was at his mercy. Everything had been tossed around and destroyed. And then fixed again. And then destroyed some more. Hadn't she loved him? Didn't she care?

He opened the door and stared at her. She raised her head slowly, and her eyes bore through his.

"Have you been crying Pup?"

"A little I guess,"

"Come in, it's cold,"

She walked in and stood awkwardly in the doorway, taking everything in. Then she laughed.

"Evan darling did you clean? For little old me?"

"Of course I did. Couldn't let you into my pigsty,"

"Oh please, I used to go to your house every night. I was constantly in your room, which was constantly messy. What's changed now?"

"I have. Do you want something to drink?"

"Yeah, that would be nice,"

"What's your poison?" he asked, and she grinned. She had gotten that saying from him, had loved it.

"What's on special?"

"Hot chocolate, with extra marshmallows for those sad little Puppies who need a break,"

"I'll take that," she replied, looking around some more. He wandered into the kitchen, while she walked into the lounge room.

Typical Evan…she though, taking in the large TV and stereo system he had going. She saw some photos on a bookcase, and smiled when she saw what the predominant once was.

It was the two of them, when he had first come back from school. He had taken her to a theme park, and in the photo they were eating cotton candy and laughing. He was tickling her and she was almost choking. Melissa picked up the photo and turned it around. There was a message on the back, one that she had written herself when she'd had the photo developed.

Keep on smiling dude, you're my sunshine…Luv Liss.

"I remember when you gave me that. If I wasn't a guy I would have cried," he said, coming up behind her and handing her a mug. It nearly burnt her hand, but she kept hold, relishing the warmth.

"Good times, hey sunshine?"

"I'm so glad you never called me that in public," he replied, laughing. "Come sit next to the fire, you're freezing!"

He grabbed her free hand and led her over to an old rug by the fire. She sat down and crossed her legs, looking at her drink.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he asked.

"Maybe," she mumbled.

"Surely it can't be that bad Pup. We've had our fair share of troubles in life,"

She smiled meekly. "We have haven't we?"

"Mhm, Do you remember all the shit we went through with our parents when they found out about us for the first time?"

She laughed. "Yeah. That was funny. My dad looked just about ready to hit you,"

'Well I don't blame him. Remember what we were doing when he found us?" he asked, grinning cheekily.

"We were just kissing!" she exclaimed indignantly.

"Liss, you were straddling me. It probably looked a whole lot worse,"

"I was straddling you because you pulled me on top of you and I was trying to keep my balance!"

"Whatever, I know the truth,"

She snorted. "You wish,"

"I don't need to wish, I got my wishes remember?"

She threw a pillow at him from the couch.

"Shut up Evan,"

They were quiet for a second, and he took her appearance in. It was the first time in a long time she wasn't immaculate. It wasn't the sight that bothered him; in his opinion she would always be gorgeous, it was the fact that something had bothered her enough that she hadn't worried.

"I know, I look horrible,"

"It doesn't matter to me Pup, what I want to know is what's gotten you like this? You weren't even this upset when your parents passed away!"

"That's because they weren't my parents," she whispered. Evan looked blank for a minute, did a slight double take, and then looked her in the eye.

"What do you mean they weren't your parents?"

"I mean, just like you, I was adopted. Only my parents are these crazy fucking psycho killers!"

"Death Eaters?" he asked.

"Yeah them. Ginny knows, and now this other guy at school found out, and I'm so scared he's going to tell everyone that I don't even want to give him a chance!"

"Why would he tell everyone?"

"Because he's a nasty little ferret!" she exclaimed.

"Malfoy?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I met him with Pansy. I kinda understand the ferret part…anyway, how did he find out?"

"Turns out he's my cousin, and his auntie decided to tell him all about me," she replied angrily.

"Hey, Liss, calm down ok? It's me you're talking to here. No anger required,"

"I know," she replied, looking at him helplessly. "I just wish everything could go back to normal,"

"So do I," he whispered. She looked at him for a minute, then crawled over into his lap.

"Ev, I'm so sorry. If I could turn back time…god if I could find a way, I'd do it all over again, and make it better. I wouldn't get so angry, I wouldn't have hated you! I wouldn't have…"

"Dated my best mate?"

"Yeah…that,"

"Look, I've adjusted ok? It's really no big deal,"

"Yeah it is. It's hurting you, I can see it. I'm gunna go. I shouldn't have come. I've put you in the most awkward position,"

She stood up to leave, and made it halfway to the door before he grabbed her, and snaked his arms around her hips.

"You've never put me in an awkward position in all my life Melissa Simmons. Ever,"

She turned in his arms and pulled herself into his chest. It was a second before he realized she was sobbing quietly.

"Pup? Hey, calm down. It's going to be alright! I promise,"

"You can't promise me that Evan. There was a time when being with you made everything better, made everything whole again. I can't even have that now!" she screamed angrily.

"Do you love Viktor?"

"I…I think I do. But he's not you, and it's killing me,"

She looked into his eyes and saw pain. Harsh, raw pain. Reaching up on the tips of her toes, she barely brushed her lips as she made to kiss him.

"Boy, you have got to stop growing," she whispered.

"I'm not a boy anymore,"

"That's for sure," she replied, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Liss…" he said warningly. "Don't start something you can't stop,"

"I don't want to stop it…" she replied, kissing his neck.

"You're going to regret this in the morning. We both will, and it will be awkward…"

"Evan how many times have we used each other? How many times have we fallen on each other in anger? How many nights of pure regret have we endured together? It's never been awkward, and it never will be,"

She pulled him on top of her, kissing him slowly. He growled softly and moaned.

"Liss,"

"For Gods' sake shut up!" she whispered softly, and he couldn't help himself…

It is different this time Liss…I love you too much now to let go…

Once again, reiteration; my character is NOT a slut…although it may seem like it...and re-reading this, she seems a bit emo, but she's struggling people...LET HER STRUGGLE! I'm sorry, but I needed my Ev/Liss fix, and it had to be done. Next chapter: exactly how much regret will they experience, and what will happen when Viktor finds out? Stay tuned LoL! BTW (sparklystar, this was for you too!)